Tonga's team from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games remain "in good spirits" despite still being stranded in New

Zealand because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, and are expected to fly home on October 20.

Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) - quarantined for 14 days as they returned from the Games to New

Zealand at the expense of their NOCs.However, the Tongan team members' planned return to their country

after the completion of their quarantine was hampered when New Zealand entered a strict lockdown on

Zealand until November or December following the closure of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, which prevented

Zealand with three matches in Australia.Tonga was represented by a total of six athletes at Tokyo 2020

England have withdrawn from hockey's Men's Junior World Cup in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar, citing "a number of COVID-related concerns" including a 10-day quarantine upon arrival.

excluded those fully inoculated with Covishield, the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, from new

involvement as "untenable".It said player and staff wellbeing concerns were a key factor.The Australian and New

Zealand national teams have also withdrawn from the men's and women's Junior World Cup.They will be

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) have a television advert featuring four Paralympians to sell to organisations

diversity and inclusion and their key messages to the community, whilst helping create a more inclusive New

Zealand."

PNZ reported that 1.8 million people in New Zealand watched the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.The advert is

University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) has appointed former chief executive of Badminton New

Zealand, Joe Hitchcock and Independent Governance Services managing director Joanna Kelly as its two

In addition to his work at Badminton New Zealand, Hitchcock was previously the operations manager and

Hitchcock and Kelly bring great perspective and new skills," said chair of the Board, Nicola Clayden.

 "UTSNZ is in the middle of developing a new strategic plan looking ahead to 2025 and these two

Zealand at a critical time.

University sport in New Zealand is overseen by the UTSNZ ©Getty ImagesKelly has over a decade's experience

Olivia Fiechter upset fourth seed Amanda Sobhy in a back-and-forth, all-American third-round tie at the US Open squash tournament in Philadelphia.

USOpenSquash pic.twitter.com/FIwsy90vAD— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) October 3, 2021Joelle King from New

Zealand and Egypt's Hania El Hammamy will contest the other women's quarter-final.In the men's draw,

regatta for the first time in the America’s Cup’s 170-year history following the confirmation of a new

the 37th America’s Cup, scheduled to be held in 2024.The move comes after defending champions Royal New

Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) and British challenger Record Royal Yacht Squadron revealed the new AC40

Zealand (ETNZ), owner of RNZYS’ yacht, defended the America’s Cup title with a 7-3 victory over Circolo

"three compelling and professional international proposals" for the hosting of the race.Auckland in New

Zealand, Cork in Ireland and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia are said to be on the shortlist to stage the event

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) has released a video series featuring athletes Rushlee Buchanan

Tokyo 2020 to "focus on my mental health", a move which won the 19-time world champion plaudits.In New

Zealand, top-level sport was rocked when 24-year-old cyclist Olivia Podmore died suddenly in August,

Taupo in New Zealand has been chosen to stage the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2024 - four years

athletes to Taupo than we would have been able to next year, as well as showcasing the region, and New

Zealand as a whole, to a global audience," said Meyer.Mayor of Taupo David Trewavas said that the event

Zealand to a global audience.Taupo is considered the "home of ironman" as it prepares to host the 70.3

Zealand to the rest of the world."

Stuart Nash, Minister of Economic and Regional Development and Tourism in New Zealand, added: "We are

Sunday's (October 3) National Rugby League (NRL) Grand Final between the Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brisbane's Lang Park will be held in front of a reduced crowd of 39,000 following the imposition of tightened COVID-19 restrictions by the Queensland Government, and could still be moved to Townsville.

capacity.Queensland has largely managed to avoid tougher lockdown restrictions imposed in states such as New

and would be limited to 19,000 fans were the Grand Final to be moved there.Queensland recorded six new

National Rugby League Women's Premiership (NRLW) has been postponed until 2022, while Australia and New

Zealand pulled out of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England because of COVID-19 concerns, with

Islands has been inducted into the Oceania Cycling Confederation as its 11th member as one of four new

The Solomon Islands joins Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Zealand, Samoa and Vanuatu as

Australia and South Korea joined Japan and China in the semi-finals of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women's Asia Cup after winning their respective playoffs in Amman.

Australia defeated rivals New Zealand 72-61, while South Korea overcame Chinese Taipei 80-74 to join

hard-fought win.Sami Whitcomb showed her class for Australia as she amassed 29 points in their triumph over New

Six Argentina players and two staff members have been kicked out of The Rugby Championship for breaching COVID-19 rules while in Australia.

The Rugby Championship, which also includes Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, has been operating

under strict coronavirus restrictions in Australian state Queensland.Governing body South Africa, New

Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby (SANZAAR) said the group went on an unauthorised day trip to

Byron Bay in New South Wales, crossing state borders in the process."

Queensland but were turned back by police for lacking required documentation and had to stay at a hotel in New

Defending champions Japan won Group A and China topped Group B at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women's Asia Cup in Amman.

Australia are to compete in the playoffs for a spot in the semi-finals, playing Chinese Taipei and New

Zealand respectively.New Zealand thumped India 109-49 to confirm third, as Penina Davidson scored 18

Weightlifters from Oceania have won titles and set records at their senior Championships, despite the fact that the competition was organised online.

months during the pandemic.A few teams had to withdraw shortly before the Championships, including New

Zealand and Niue, because lockdown conditions are so strict the athletes could not even go to a gym.Australians

in New South Wales were also unable to take part."

at a typical in-person competition.Anti-doping testing took place in the build-up, starting in Papua New

the clean and jerk and total by making 96-135-231.The other men’s winners were Morea Baru of Papua New

Players and staff involved in the Rugby Championship have been forced to isolate prior to the final weekend of matches amid concerns over a COVID-19 outbreak in Queensland.

New Zealand assistant coach Scott McLeod confirmed that his team had been placed under strict coronavirus

All Blacks assistant coach Scott McLeod said new COVID-19 restrictions were "unexpected" ©Getty ImagesThe

increase.The Rugby Championship is due to conclude this weekend with Australia taking on Argentina and New

Zealand facing South Africa at Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast on Saturday (October 2).New Zealand